Kaiser Chiefs and Craig David at Newmarket, an Irish track celebrates its 300th year with a free raceday and the Ebor festival hits York

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York’s Ebor festival takes the top billing in August, with four Group 1s across the stellar four-day festival on the Knavesmire.

The Keeneland Phoenix Stakes is the sole top-level race in Ireland at the Curragh, but there are plenty of other fun meetings to enjoy in the summer holiday season, including a couple of tracks celebrating milestone racedays and Constitution Hill potentially making his return at Windsor.

Wherever you are planning to go racing, we've got all the information you need – including unique racedays and special ticket offers – to make the most of your trip.

August racing highlights in Britain and Ireland

England

North

EBOR FESTIVAL, YORK: It’s time for one of the best meetings of the year, with this four-day festival featuring showstopping races such as the Juddmonte International (day one), Yorkshire Oaks (day two), Nunthorpe (day three) and City of York and Ebor (final day). Wednesday, August 19-Saturday, August 22 (Tickets)

South

SHERGAR CUP, ASCOT: A collection of jockeys from around the world descend on the royal racecourse for the unique annual team-based competition. Pop group Blue headline the post-racing concert. Saturday, August 8 (Tickets)

Shergar Cup: Ascot's annual team competition raceday is back in AugustCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

HUNGERFORD STAKES, NEWBURY: A classy card featuring this Group 2 – won last year by More Thunder – and the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes. Jessie J is the live music act after racing. Saturday, August 15 (Tickets)

CELEBRATION MILE, GOODWOOD: This £200,000 Group 2 is the highlight on day two of a three-day meeting at the Sussex track. Precise won last year’s Prestige Stakes, which is the feature on the final day. Friday, August 28-Sunday, August 30 (Tickets)

SOLARIO STAKES, SANDOWN: Kingman, Masar, Too Darn Hot and Field Of Gold landed this Group 3 for juveniles – a race sure to provide future pointers – on a card that also includes the Atalanta Stakes. Saturday, August 29 (Tickets)

Windsor: could be the scene of Constitution Hill's next Flat outingCredit: Edward Whitaker

AUGUST STAKES, WINDSOR: Nicky Henderson is eyeing this £60,000 Listed race for Constitution Hill, who would be a star attraction on the evening card. Could it be a stepping stone towards the Melbourne Cup? Saturday, August 29 (Tickets)

Ireland

BALLYROAN STAKES, LEOPARDSTOWN: Two Group 3s top the bill with the Desmond Stakes also taking place at this classy midweek evening meeting. Thursday, August 6 (Tickets) 

PHOENIX STAKES, CURRAGH: Group 1 honours are up for grabs in this juvenile contest won by Aidan O’Brien a record 17 times but not in the last three years. Sunday, August 9 (Tickets)

Constitution River: won the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh last yearCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

FUTURITY STAKES, CURRAGH: Who will follow in the footsteps of last year’s Futurity winner Constitution River? That’s not the only Group 2 juvenile on the card, with the Debutante Stakes taking place for the fillies. Saturday, August 22 (Tickets)

August racing fixtures in Britain and Ireland

Bargain hunt: this month's best offers for racing tickets

* Enjoy the seaside views at Brighton’s festival of racing (Wednesday, August 5-Friday, August 7), with each day having a feature handicap in the Mile Challenge, Challenge Cup and Brighton Bullet. Ladies’ day is on day two and a three-day pass for the festival is £49.

Brighton: the seaside venue hosts its festival of racingCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

* Tramore hosts its four-day August festival (Thursday, August 13-Sunday, August 16), with three evening jumps cards, including a style evening on the Saturday, followed by an afternoon Flat meeting. Early bird tickets for each day are €20 for adults and €15 for OAPs and students until July 31.

* What better way to celebrate a track’s 300th year than to stage a free raceday? That is exactly what Bellewstown is doing to mark the milestone (Tuesday, August 25) and it will be opening its new restaurant and weighing-room extension. Pre-registration for a free ticket is required.

* The first 100 racegoers at Catterick’s ladies’ day (Wednesday, August 26) to visit the Yorkshire Dales Distillery stand will receive a complimentary Strawberry and Thai Basil Gin with Lemonade cocktail. Advance tickets are £18 for the grandstand and paddock enclosure, including a racecard, or £8 in the course enclosure.

Racecourses with special ticket offers and themed racedays in September can send details to goracing@racingpost.com

Out of the ordinary: six eye-catching events

ONE FOR THE KIDS: Chester has a range of activities planned for children at its Family Fun Day (Sunday, August 2), including a special visit from PAW Patrol characters Chase and Skye, funfairs, inflatable play zones, craft workshops and much more. And kids go free!

SWEEP FUN: Naas stages its most valuable race, the €200,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, on its bank holiday afternoon card (Monday, August 3). The track’s popular Rugby Sweepstakes returns, giving racegoers the chance to win fantastic prizes, including two tickets to Ireland v South Africa at the Aviva Stadium on November 21 along with a hotel stay.

MILESTONE UP: Chepstow’s centenary raceday (Sunday, August 9) will celebrate the course’s 100-year history with themed entertainment and tributes to the track’s development since its first meeting in 1926 alongside a six-race Flat card.

Chepstow: stages its centenary raceday in AugustCredit: Getty Images

DRESS TO IMPRESS: Racing fans are not short of ladies’ days to attend in August. These are some of the other dates for your diary – Pontefract (Wednesday, August 5), Sligo (Thursday, August 6), Musselburgh (Friday, August 7), Beverley (Wednesday, August 12), Southwell (Sunday, August 16), York (Thursday, August 20), Ffos Las (Friday, August 21), Chester and Lingfield (Saturday, August 22), and Fontwell and Sedgefield (Friday, August 28).

TIME FOR A SINGALONG: Newmarket’s July course welcomes three high-profile post-racing music acts, with Jessie J (Friday, August 7) and Craig David (Friday, August 14) playing after evening meetings and Kaiser Chiefs and Scouting For Girls (Saturday, August 22) taking to the stage following the afternoon card.

SCHOOLS OUT: Newbury hosts its first schools' celebration raceday (Wednesday, August 26), with more than 4,000 free tickets already requested from pupils across nearly 200 schools in Berkshire and the surrounding counties. Each child can claim complimentary tickets for up to two adult family members.

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